Why are so few people interested in voting for candidates for the Legislature? Because it doesn’t make much difference whether we vote for them — 97 percent get re-elected.

Under Illinois’ rigged political system, our legislators get to pick their voters, not the other way around. We’re not the only ones. Many other states have the same system that gives power not to the people but to the entrenched establishments of the Republican and Democratic parties.

Illinois has been governed totally by the Democratic Party since 2003. So when it came time to redraw legislative districts after the 2010 census, the Democrats did it. They succeeded in drawing districts that maximized the power of the Democratic Party to guarantee that they’ll be in charge of the Legislature through the 2020 elections.

That means if you don’t like the Democrats’ policies, you are out of luck unless you move to Indiana or Wisconsin.

Democrats have veto-proof majorities in both chambers. Even if a Republican wins the governor’s race this year, his power will be limited in the face of a continuing Democratic majority.

Here’s how bad it is, courtesy of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce:

“The results of the 2012 election showed incumbents in the Illinois House of Representatives won 97 percent of their general-election races. Two-thirds of the incumbents seeking re-election to the House did not even face a challenger in the fall general election.

“Thirty of 59 state Senate legislative offices had no opposition listed on the general-election ballot. Conversely, 65 of 118 state representative legislative offices had no opposition listed on the general-election ballot.

“So 95 of 177 Illinois legislators were generally guaranteed uncontested campaigns once they got past the March primary elections.”

People in some states have put “we the people” back in their governments. Iowa uses a computer to draw districts. Voters in California passed term limits, then passed a proposition that put redistricting in the hands of a commission. Neither party controls it.

Illinoisans again have an opportunity to take redistricting out of the hands of the political bosses.

A constitutional amendment, if enacted, would create an independent commission to draw the maps. Political parties would have input, but no party could control the process.

To get the independent-map amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot, Yes for Independent Maps must gather 298,000 valid signatures by May 4. Battalions of Democrats and Republicans, armed with fine-tooth combs, will inspect every signature to try to disqualify as many as possible, so I recommend that the fair-mappers turn in twice as many as the minimum needed.

I hope to talk to someone at independentmaps.org and have left three emails for someone to call me. I could find no phone number for the Chicago-based group on its website.

Page 2 of 2 - I tried to contact a Rockford-area volunteer. I left several messages on his telephone.

This is not an encouraging sign. With the number of signatures needed, and the short amount of time left, I hope it gets much easier to contact campaigners, and soon. Otherwise, just like the last time this amendment was proposed, it won’t get enough signatures to get on the ballot this November.

I suggest you visit independentmaps.org to learn more. When I hear from their people, you’ll be the first to know.